HCM CITY — The ninth Vinacas Golden Cashew Rendezvous will be held in Phú Quốc Island from November 13 to 15 to promote trade, and expand markets for cashew products as well as help cashew growers and processing firms raise their incomes, and develop the cashew sector in a sustainable manner.

Co-organised by the Việt Nam Cashew Association (Vinacas) and the Việt Nam Trade Promotion Agency, the largest event in the Việt Nam’s cashew sector is expected to attract about 400 domestic and international delegates from 40 countries and territories, said Đặng Hoàng Giang, Vinacas’s deputy chairman.

Under the theme “Talk about cashew nuts, think about Việt Nam," the event will feature discussion sessions on strategies to develop the cashew sector in a sustainable manner, on cashew kernel and raw cashew nut global markets, a seminar on the role of woman in the cashew sector, a conference on international co-operation in the sector, a cashew products exhibition and other activities.

In addition, a Cashew Caravan Tour (from HCM City to Long An - Cần Thơ - Phú Quốc) to be held on November 12 and 13 will enable delegates to visit one of the country’s largest cashew processing hubs, fruit orchards and rice paddies as well as enjoy the unique shopping activities at Cái Răng floating market, he said.

According to statistics of the Việt Nam Industry and Trade Information Centre, Việt Nam exported 294,000 tonnes of cashew nuts worth US$2.98 billion in the first 10 months of the year, an increase of 0.4 per cent in volume and 25.6 per cent in value over the same period last year.

The US, EU and China was the largest importers of Vietnamese cashews, accounting for 35 per cent, 25 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, of the country’s total export revenue.

Nguyễn Đức Thanh, Vinacas’s chairman, said the sector is expected to ship abroad 330,000 tonnes of cashew nuts this year, earning more than $3.3 billion, the most ever.

Việt Nam will retain a market share of more than 50 per cent in the global cashew nut market, which is estimated at $5.5 billion, the association said.

Việt Nam has been the largest cashew nut exporter in the world since 2006. — VNS